Automatic gate keeper apparatus



Sept. 11, 1951 c. F. WHEELER 2,567,306

AUTOMATIC GATE KEEPER APPARATUS Filed Oct. 11, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS F 5.2. ,4; jazz.

Sept. 11 1951 c. F. WHEELER AUTOMATIC GATE KEEPER APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed OOb. 11, 1949 .z ga.

INVETOR.

(A24 E Wye 5:452. BY

W 1 Fill!!! L J H as 172 A! TOR N EYS A invention relates to automatically operat- ,.ed ,gate keeper, apparatus for a horizontally direction.

Patented Sept. II, 1951 7 1;,

2,567,396 ,t AUTOMATIC GATE KEEPER reasu e p Y can F: wheeler, Medina, Tex; Application ctoberll i8'qlaims'l (Crista-:94)"- swinging gate normally secured in closed position by keepers on each side of its latch, which keepers are, automatically, released by the approach of a vehicle toward the gate, retained in released positions, and automatically reset I by J closin movement of the gate. H v v I,

Gates have been provided with cams on the gatepost-so arranged that the force o f gravity.- actin o t ater tumst e e e o en to closed position. Gra v'ity operatedkeepers are well known which lift. to permit the gate latch -to pass and then fall to retain the gate in closed position. With this arrangement, a gate will automatically closeandlock after avehicle .has passed through it. l- I owever, it is still necessary for an occupant of the vehicle to manually release the keeper before the gate will open. Arrangements have heretofore been proposed .for automatically releas n e ,lseepersb a :tre'adle or some, analogous operatin devicein the path of an approaching vehicle. However,

these prior developmentshave been tDOtomplex,

either being too expensiveor ,unableto stand the wear and tear to which they are subjected. Usu- 1 ally the proposed devices incorporate spring .-;operated elements which must be carefully, adjusted for proper, operation and which so'on fail to operate due to, change characteristics of the springs with changing ,weather conditions, 7/

. It is a major object of theinvention to provide improved automatic gate keeper apparatus of relatively simple construction which may be readily installed and will operate satisfactorily for an in-; .defini-te -period of time. An important object of the invention is to provide a treadle actuated automatic gate keeper apparatus in which the keeper is retained by gravity in its operative and its inoperative positions. Another object is to provide automatic gate keeper apparatus in .which the keeper. is shifted from inoperative to operative position by closing movement of the at -H In accordance with these objects, one impor-.

ltant feature of the invention resides in the, ar-

rangement of an overbalancing arm in the keeper operating mechanismso it will be acted upon by gravity to retain the keeper in its raised inoperative position. Another feature resides i a one way connection between the treadle and the overbalancing arm sothe treadle is effective to shift the lever from vertical to overbalanced position, .but is ineflectiveto shift the lever in the reverse 19 19, saiimo.m;atj. v

U f Another important feature of the invention is en rbodied in the resetting mechanism which iii- ;cludes a cam connected to the keeper and an operating device actuated by"c-losing movement of the gate to shift thecarn toovercome the weight f the overbalancing lever and thereby reset "the keeper irroperativeiposition. Also, one feature of the invention resides-inthe arrangement of an yaim inthe: pathof the gatelatch effective upon .closing movement ofthe gate to actuate the retaken, in conjunction.v

.setting mechanism. but, ineffective upon opening -movement of theg-ate- 7,, v A .Other features and objects of the inventionwill ;become apparent fromithe following specification withm'the accompanying drawings whereinzc" .v M 1- Figure -1 is apartial. op plan view ofav gate provided with automatic keeper apparatus embodying the inventionin' its preferred form, the parts 3 being shown operated by a vehicle approaching from theleft; a Fig. 2 isa vertical sectional view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 and taken on the line -2+2 ;of Fig. 1, but withthe' keeper housing uncovered to illustr atethe keeper mechanism; Y "Fig.3 is an enlargedview'of the keeper mech- {anism as se'eninFig.2; Fig. 4 isafragmentary view of-the gate and "gatepost, some parts being broken away and V others shown in section for purposes of clearness; i Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of'the keeper mechanism, taken on" the line 55 of Fig. 3;

:Fig. {(i isan'enlarged' partial horizontal sec- .tional view taken on the 1ine;66 of Rig -2; "a cross sectional" view taken" on the 1 g! 'line'ifi'ofFig. 6

ileverand the slide; and

k Fig. 9 is'- 'afragmentary perspective view of a linkagej forr'ninjg"a part, of the keeper, operating mechanism.

jj In {this preferre form or the invention, a pair 1of keepersare pivotallymounted, at one side of {their centers of. gravity, on a keeper housing so 5 they will engage opposite sides of a latch on the unhingedend of the gate. on a pin above these -.keepers area pairof tumblers. Linkages cono 'nectthe tum e keepers with turfimg of a. tumbler 'about its pivot will raise its con- 3 nectedkeeper from an operative position in ,the pa h -t e a e la to an. in r v -p ti :5 above the pathg; Qn-each sideofthe'housingds an 5 yer alanqin jl yer p ot d e lw i nter-or 3 gravity and having its upper end connected by a link to one of the tumblers.

Operation of the overbalancing levers to lift the keepers is efiected by treadles, one on each side of the gate and each connected by a reciprocable slide to its respective overbalancing lever, the slide being operative to shift the lever upon movement of the treadle in one direction, but being inoperative during reverse movement of the treadle.

Each treadle may shift its associated overbalancing lever from vertical to an overbalanced, angularly disposed position. This moves a tumbler and lifts one of the keepers to inoperative f position where it is retained by the overbalanced weight of the lever. To reset the keepers, resetting arms are pivoted on the housing in the path.

of the gate latch. Each arm operates a lever which engages a cam on its associated keeper to overcome the weight of'the overbalancingarm and restor the keeper to operative position. These resetting arms are eife ctive to operate their respective levers only by closing movement or the gate.

Iiithe preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accom anyin -drawmgs,- a gate H is hinged on a gatepo'st 12 to swing horizontally about the a xis-oi a vertieal'i'od-l3' (Fig.- 4) supported by the gatepost 1:; Attached near the "top of gate i; aroller I4 is arranged on the post "side of' the-rod while ii-similar roller 15, supported near the bottom of the gate, is arranged on the gate side of the rod I3. The weight of the gate rests upona wheel [6 which rides on acam. l1

-hav-ing upwardly. inclined surfaces"!!! and 19 extending in both directions from .alower. central a. portion 2 With .this arrangement, the gate may be opened in either direction s'othe wheel I 6 rides up one of the inclinedsurfaoes of the cam 11.

- When the gate is rele'ased the force of gravity will v these crossmembers, such as that indicated at 24, may extend beyond the end of jthe gate to form a latch 25.

A Opposite the closed position of the gate H, as

shown in Fig. 1 a keeper post 26 supportsv a .kee'per housing Z? which is provided witha pair of keeperslfli and 21 3, one on each side ofthe center I line of'the housing to engage. opposite sides of latch 25, as indicated by dot and .dash lines in I Fig. 3. One of these keepers 28 iis shown in its operative positionrn the path or the latch 25, whereas the other keeper 291s raised to ino erative position displaced above the path of the latch 25. Each keeper is pivoted at one side or its center of gravity. For example, keeper 281s pivoted on a pin 3| carried by the walls of housing 27, the greater portion 'pf the. 'weigh't of the keeper '28 being to the left "of the pin 31 as viewed in Fig. 3. Likewise, keeper 29 'is pivoted on a pin 32 so the 'greaterport'ioh of its weight is to the right of the pinas viewed in Fig. 3.

Mounted on the housing above the keepers and on the central line between the keepers is a pivot pin 33. Pivoted on this pin is a 'first turnbler 34 portio of keeper 28. Tumbler 34 is pivoted so its center bf gravity is to the right of the pivot -pin 33'; A link conhect's the uppe'i' end of the tumbler 34 to the upper end of an overbalancir'ig' lever 38 pivoted at 39 below its center of gravity on an upright 4| at one side of the keeper housing 21. To steady the upright 41, its upper end may be connected to housing 21 and post 26 by a crosspiece 42.

It will be noted that the overbalancing lever 38 is arranged on the upright at the side of the housing opposite to the side on which the keeper 2B is pivoted. Operation of keeper 28 through the lever and linkage system described is effected by a treadle 43, of U-shape, having its open ends provided with stub shafts 44 and 45, respectively iournaled at the level of roadway to turn about a horizontal axis substantially parallel to the closed position of gate ll. Stub shaft 45 is keyed to. a crank. having one end pivotally connected at 41 to a lever operating slide 48 supported to reciprocate by an open guide 5| (Fig. 7) upon operation of the treadle 43. To facilitate movement of the treadle 43 by the wheel of a vehicle appreaching the gate, a sleeve 52 is rotatable on thewheehengaging portion of the treadle.

-Operating slide 48 has one end pivoted at 41 to crank 46 and its other end bifurcated with legs 54 and 55 extending on opposite sides of the lever 38. Positioned between the legs 54 and 55 and journaled therein is a roller 56-arranged-to engage side surface 51 of the lower end-of lever 38. Thus, reciprocating slide 48' is effective to .move lever 38 upon movement of the treadle 43and crank 46 in a clockwise direction as viewed in'F-ig. 2, but is ineffective to operate the lever upon movement of the'treadle and-crank in the opposite direction. a I

Operating connections of thekeeper- 29 are similar. A pair of links 61 and 62, pivotal-1y connee-ted together, have their free ends respectively connected to the upper end of thekeeper 29 and one side of tumbler 63-also pivoted on pin 33. At its upper end, the tumbler 63 is connected bya link 64 to an overbalancing lever 85 pivoted below its center of gravity at. on an upright 61 arranged onth-e side of the post 25 opposite to the upright 41. Operation of the overbalancing lever 65 is efiected by a treadle 68 having-itsstub shafts 69 and H jour-naled :at ground level to turn about an axis parallel to the closed position-of the gate 1 -l parallel to the axis of treadle 43. As illustrated in Fig. '1, treadle 68 is also of U-shape having legs 1-2 and 13 extending from stub shafts. and?! tea crosspiece 14 on which is rotatable a sleeve 15a A crank 11 keyed to the stub shaft H is'pivotally connected at 18 to one end of a reciprocating slide 79. An open guide 8i, like the guide BI, supports theslide to reciprocate u on o eration of the treadle and-crank "HQ The other end of slide 159 is bifurcatedin these/me fashion as slide '48. Between the legs forming the bifurcated end of the slidei 18 'there. is journaled a roller 82 for engaging the side surfiaoe of overbal-ancing levertli so the slide is is-eifec- -tive to move the overloalancing lever only when "wheel of a vehicle approaching the gate from the right-hand side of Figs. land Theopera ting mechanism and keeper 29 are shown in the positions-to which they are shifted by depressing the treadle. In operation, when a vehicle enfrom its Jbalancedvertical .positionto an over.-

.balanced position Jangularly disposed with respect :to.-the vehicle. This movement of the,lever. 30 acts through link 31 tonturn tumbler, ina counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3. This turning, movement of tumbler 34 pis effective;through .links.,35 and 35. to. raise the keeper 28 ,from its operative. position to -an inoperative position abovethe path of lat c,h ;25.

:After the vehicle has passedover the treadle 43,

a counterbalancing weight 05 on the crank 45 returns thetreadle to it uprightpositipn thereby shifting, the.,reciprooating slide 48; inra. r verse direction. However, this movement pf; the slide 48 is ineffective;on,;theoverbalancing lever 30. vKeeper 28,, is retained in its raised inoperative pos tionby mower-ba an ed weishtof l v .aa. .Ihi is b t l u at dlbv t e. ar an emen .ofthe operati m ch n sm fo ke pe -v After a v hi as. p ss d. ver, rea e. 8. the r ad willreturn to i ai edpos ti na d w lret m slide 19 to its original position, but overbalancing lever 65 will beretainedby gravity in; the position shown in Fig. 2,.thereby retaining the keeper 2.9.-in.... t ra s i o e ative. p s ti n flihe mi pose oi thisarrangementis to retain the keeper in operative position after. the vehicle passes ,over the treadle so the vehicle may continue until it engages a rotatable rubber bumper 8B and pushes the gate-open. Thus, a vehicle approaching from the rightof Fig. 1" could pass over the treadle B8 permitting the vtreadle to be returned to its raised positionhy counterweightBLwith the keeper 29 remaining in operative position so ,theyehicle might open the gate and continue through thegate and beyond.

Resetting of the keepers 1 t V their lower opera tive positions is effected by closing movement of the gate. For this purpose each keeper has a cam. For example, keeper 20 has an arcuate .shaped cam 9| formedias an integral part of the keeper and extending in aidirectio n away from the. upper side of -the keeper adjacentits pivot ,3I. Depending frorn 'a pivot pin 02, on the housing 2'! adjacent the keeper, is aresetting arm\ -03 positioned in the path .of the gate latch so it will be engaged by the gate latch and'swung about the pivot 92' 'diirinig opening and "closing movements of the g'atef Also, pivoted on the housing 21 adjacent thee resetting am ss is a lever 94. One convenient way or mounting the lever 94 is to pivotit on the pin 92a1ong with.

resetting arm 93. Lever 94 is preferably formed of two parallel legs 95 andilt between'which is journaled a. cam operating roller 91. As it is 'desired to have resetting arm 93 operatelever 94. only during closing movements of the gatefa connection providedbetween the arm andithc lever which is effective only when the arnfll is moved in a clockwise direction, as viewed inFig. 3, which movement is causediby gate latch 25 'paj'ssing'the arm 93 asthe'g'ate moves toward closed position. This connection may b'ein the form .of anabutmentpin 98 on an car 09 of the lever 94 and arranged to engage one side of the resetting arm 93 so the arm'may be moved freely in a counterclockwise directiomas viewed in Fig. 3,'without moving. the lever 94. I f 1 Similarly, keeper. isfprovidedwithsa eam l0l giantes i a e e tensive .away i omii eke psr adjacent its pivot.32.'. A resetting" arm I02 dc Ipends from pivot I03 on the housing 21 into the pathof movement of the gate latch 25. Also, pivoted on pin I03 is a .cam lever I04, having journaled in its free endv a cam-engaging roller I05. Ear I06 on the lever I04. carries an abutment pin I0! to beengaged by the resetting arm -I02 upon movement in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. ,3, but ineffective upon movement of the resetting arm in the opposite direction. The cam operating levers 94 and I04 with their rollers 91 and I05 are so positioned, .and the cams 9| and IOI are so shaped that turn.- ing of the levers causes the cam rollers to traverse the cams and move them in a direction to overcomethe overbalancedrweight of the levers 4I7and 65, and thereby return the keepers from their raised inoperative position to their respective operative positions in the path of the gate latch 25.

To install this apparatus, gateposts l2 and 26 are positioned on each side of an opening in .fence III. A base for the keeper housing and associated mechanism may be provided by a channel I I2 extending parallel to the roadway in both directions from the post 25. Uprights 4| and 61 may be secured to this base and reinforced .by angularly disposed structural members H3 and H4 extending from the ends of the channel H2 to the top of the uprights. vA bearing Hi may be secured to a concrete emplacement positioned flush with or slightly below the roadway to rotatably support stub shaft 44 on the treadle 43. Stub shaft may be journaled in a bearing II'! on a side of the channel H2 so the stub shaft extends through the channel to support crank 46. A concrete housing H8 is provided below the end portion of channel H2 to accommodate the lower part of crank 46 with its counterweight 85. Similarly, the other end of the mechanism may be provided with a bearing I2I for stub shaft 69 of the treadle 60, stub shaft II being journaled in bearing I22 on the side of channel H2. A concrete housing I23 isprovided below the other end portion of channel H2 to accommodate crank "and counterweight 01.

With the mechanism thus installed, and the gate in closed position with both keepers in opits inoperative position, as shown in Fig. 2. The

vehicle may then proceed toward the gate releasing treadle 68 so it can return to its raised position without disturbing the position of overbalancing lever or thekeeper 29. After the gate is forced open by engagement of the vehicle with rubber bumper 86, the vehicle can proceed through the gate which will then swing by gravity toward closed position. In opening, the gate latch 25 moves resetting arm I02 in a clockwise direction, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3. but this does. not move the lever I04. However, in returning toward closed position, gate latch 25 again engages resetting arm I02 but movesit in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Figs. 2 and .3. whereupon arm I02, engages abutment pin I01 to shift the lever I04 in a counterclockwisedirection, Upon being raised to itsinoperative position keeper .29 has its cam .IIII moved toward egscasoe the lever I04. in this osition, counterclockwise movement of the lever I04 causes cam roller. I05 to traverse the arc of cam IIlI, thereby moving the keeper 29 to overcome the weight of overbalancing lever 65 and restore the keeper to its operative position.

Similarly, a vehicle approaching from the opposite direction will depress treadle 43 to reciprocate slide 48 and shift overbalancing lever '41 from its vertical position to an angularl-y disposed overbalanced position. This operates through link 31, tumbler 34 and links 35 and 36 to raise keeper 28 from its operative position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, to an inoperative position'where it is held by the overbalanced weight 'oflever 4I even though treadle 43 is released and slide 48 returns to its original position. In opening the gate away from the treadle 43, gate latch moves arm 93 but does not operate lever '94.; Closing movement of the gate again operates arm 93 which turns lever 94 so cam roller 97 transverses cam 9| to overcome the weight of overbal- 'ancing lever 4| and return the keeper 28 to i= s operative position. As illustrated in Fig. 9,'link '35 is composed of a pair of spaced arms I25 and I26 on each side of 1ink-36. An end piece I21 i'oins the sides I25 and I26 so it engages the edge of link 36, pivot pin I28 extending between the sides I25 and I26 to connect links and 36 adjacent the end piece I21. The purpose of this arrangement is to limit the downward movement of link 36 with respect to link 35 so the links exert an upward force on keeper 28 when tumbler 34 is operated, but does not limit upward movement of keeper 28 independently of movement of the tumbler 34 In case the gate is open and the keeper 28' is in operative position, the gate may close and gate-latch 25 will elevate the keeper "su'fficientlyto permit the gate latch to as sun-1e its central position between the two keep 'ers. Following such elevation by the gate latch 25 keeper 28 will return by gravity to itsoperative position; Links GI and 6 2"are simi1arly constructed to permit upward movement of keeper 29' independently of movement of thetumbler 63 but provide a connection whereby keeper 29 will be positively lifted When tumbler 63 is turned. From the foregoing it will be apparent that all parts: of the automatic keeper apparatus aregravityoperatedor, operated by an external force against gravity. This eliminates the need for any sprin actuated devices andthe difiiculties involved: in the use of such devices. Once the keeper operating mechanism is installed, it re quirespractically no'maintenahce other than an occasional drop o'f'oil on the moving parts. In'- clement weather conditions vvill not adversely affect the-operation of the-mechanism. What is claimed is:

1-. Automatic gate keeper apparatus comprisiing a keeper mounted on a pivot atone of its center of gravity and shiftable" between an operotive. position anda raised inoperativeposition, means connected tosaid keeper'fpr shifting said keeper from operative to inoperative position; and overbalancihglever pivoted below its centeror gravityconneet'e'd to said means; said overbalancing leverbeing turnable' on its pivot froma. normally: vertical position whensaid keeperis in operative position toan angular-1y disposed position when said keeper is rais'edto inoperative position, the overbalanoedf weight of said lever being suificie'nt to retainsaid keeper in inoperative position, a treadle operatedcrarik, and a s'lide'conn'ected to said c'rankfor" moving 8 said lever from vertical to overbal'aficed position.

*2. Automatic gate keeper "apparatusrcomprislng a housing, a keeper pivoted at one side. oi its "center of gravity "on said housing and 'shiftable between an operative position and a raised i n operative position, a tumbler pivoted on. said housing above said keeper, linkage connecting said keeper to said tumbler, an overbalancim; lever pivotally mounted below its center of gravity at one side of said housing, a treadle operated crank for shifting s'aidv l'ever from a verticallydi-sposed position to an "overbalance'd angulaily disposed -position,. and a link connected between said lever and said tumb1er.- V

3.- Automatic gate keeper apparatus comprising a housing, a keeper pivoted at one side of its center of gravity on saidl'i'ousin'g and shiftable between an operative position and a raised in operativeposition, a "tumbler pivoted on said housing above said keeper, linkage connecting said keeper to said tumbler, an eve-romancing lever pivotally' mounted belowits center of gravity at one side of said housing and connected to said tumbler, "a treadle operated crank, a slide having one end connected to said. crank, and an abutment on -'said slide enga'ge'abl'e with's'aid lever u ono eration of Said crank to Shift said reverfrom vertical to 'overbalanced position.

4. ln automatie keeper apparatus, a keeper operating device comprising an ov'erb'alancing' lever pivoted below itsoentr'oi gravity, means connecting said lever to the keeper, said lever being movable about its 'pivdt oetwe'en 'averticalposition and an overbalanced position angularly disposed with respect to said? vertical position, a treadle operated crank, a reciprocable slide pivotally connected to said crank, and an acct;- ment positioned on said 's'lideto engageand shift said lever from its vertical position to its overfba'lanced position upon reciprocation of said slide in one direction by operation of said crank, said abutment being ineffective to shift said lever upon reciprocation or said slide in the opposite direction. I v

7 5. I'n automatic keeper apparatus, a keeper operating device comprising an overoalanci'ng lever pivoted below its center of gravity, means connecting said leverto the keeper, s'aid lever being movable about its pivot between a vertical position and an overbalanc'ed position angula'rly disposed with respect to said vertical position, a treadle operated crank, and a reciprocable'slide having a bifurcated end and pivot'a'llyconnected at itsother end to saidcrank, said overloalanc; inglever having its lower endbetween the sides of the bifurcated end of said slide. 7 1

i 6. In automatic gate keeper apparatus have ing a pivoted keeper, a keeper resetting device comprising a cam connected to the keepena lever, a;cam operator carried by said lever, said cam being shaped and arranged to shift the keeper from inoperative to" operative position up'on movement of saidcam operator. an arm depending from a pivot adjacent said'l'ever; and means operative by'move'ment ofsai'd; arm in one direction f or'moving said leverand camoperator, but inoperative to move them during, movement of saidarm'in the opposite direction; I

7. In automatic gate keeper apparatus having a pivoted keeper, keeper resetting apparatus comprising a cam connected to the keeper; a lever; a cam operator on said lever for moving said cam, said cam being shaped" and arranged to move thekeep'er from'inoperativetooperative position upon being moved "by-said cam operator,

an arm depending from a pivot adjacent said lever, and an abutment on said lever in the path of movement of said arm about its pivot.

8. Automatic gate keeper apparatus comprising a housing, a pair of keepers pivoted at spaced points on opposite sides of the center of said housing to retain a gate latch between them, each keeper being pivoted at one side of its center of gravity so it is normally urged by gravity toward an operative position, a pivot pin on said housing above said keepers, a pair of independently shiftable tumblers pivoted on said pin, linkage connecting one tumbler to one keeper, linkage connecting the other tumbler to the other keeper, a first normally vertically disposed overbalancing lever pivotally supported below its center of gravity adjacent the side of said housin on which said one keeper is pivoted, a link connecting the upper end of said first overbalancing lever to said other tumbler, a second normally vertically disposed overbalancing lever pivotally supported below its center of gravity adjacent the side of said housing on which said other keeper is pivoted, a link connecting the upper end of said second overbalancing lever to said one tumbler, a pair of treadles, slide connections between said treadles and said overbalancing levers operative upon operation of said treadles toward the gate to shift the respective overbalancing levers from their normally vertical positions to lift the respective tumblers and keepers to inoperative positions above their operative positions, the weight of said overbalancing levers being suflicient to retain said tumblers and keepers in their raised inoperative positions, a pair of keeper resetting arms pivoted on said housing, one adjacent each of said keepers, a pair of cam levers pivoted on said housing, one operativel connected to each of said keeper resetting arms, each of said keepers having a cam thereon of arcuate shape, and a, cam operator on each of said cam levers arranged to engage the respective cams upon operation of said keeper resetting arms, to overcome the overbalanced weight of said overbalancing levers and to return the respective keepers to their operative positions.

CARL F. WHEELER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 462,981 Mace Nov. 10, 1891 784,510 Arke Mar. 7, 1905 1,245,057 Stillings et al. Oct. 30, 1917 1,545,285 Speer July 7, 1925 1,648,691 Mathews Nov. 8, 1927 2,343,519 Balch Mar. 17, 1944 2,396,610 Schulze Mar. 17, 1946 

